Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting (sawm), communal prayer (salah), reflection, study of the Quran, charity, and strengthening community ties. It is also the month in which the Quran is believed to have been revealed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad, known as Laylat al-Qadr. The annual observance of Ramadan is regarded as one of the five pillars of Islam and lasts 29 to 30 days, from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next.
Fasting from dawn to sunset is obligatory (fard) for all Muslims who have reached puberty, and who are not acutely or chronically ill, traveling, elderly, breastfeeding, pregnant, or menstruating.Fasting (Al Siyam) – – p. 18, el Bahay el Kholi, 1998 The predawn meal is suhur, and the nightly feast that breaks the fast is iftar.Islam, Andrew Egan – 2002 – p. 24Dubai – p. 189, Andrea Schulte-Peevers – 2010 Although rulings (fatawa) have been issued that Muslims who live in regions with a midnight sun or polar night should follow the timetable of Mecca, it is common practice to follow the timetable of the closest country in which night can be distinguished from day.
The spiritual rewards (thawab) of fasting are believed to be multiplied during Ramadan. Accordingly, during the hours of fasting, Muslims refrain not only from food and drink, but also from all behavior deemed to be sinful in Islam.
Etymology The word Ramadan derives from Arabic (), itself derived from the Arabic root () related to , which corresponds to the Classical Arabic verb () meaning .
Ramadan is thought of as one of the names of God in Islam by some. Many hadiths say it is prohibited to say only "Ramadan" in reference to the calendar month and that it is necessary to say "month of Ramadan", as reported in Sunni, Shia and Zaydi sources. Others consider this Mawḍūʻ (fabricated) and inauthentic.
In the Persian language, the Arabic letter (ḍād) is pronounced /z/. Muslim communities in some countries with historical Persian influence, such as Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, India, Pakistan, and Turkey, use the word Ramazan or Ramzan. The word Romzan is used in Bangladesh.
History
Muslims hold that all scriptures were revealed during Ramadan, the scrolls of Abraham, Torah, Psalms, Gospel, and Quran having been handed down during that month. Muhammad is said to have received his first quranic revelation on Laylat al-Qadr, one of five odd-numbered nights during the last ten days of Ramadan.
Although Muslims were first commanded to fast in the second year of Hijra (624 CE), they believe that the practice of fasting is not in fact an innovation of monotheismQuran Chapter 2, Revelation 183 but rather has always been necessary for believers to attain fear of God (taqwa). They point to the fact that pre-Islamic pagans in Mecca fasted on the tenth day of Muharram to expiate sin and avoid drought. Philip Jenkins argues that the observance of Ramadan fasting grew out of "the strict Lenten discipline of the Syrian Churches", a postulation corroborated by other scholars, including theologian Paul-Gordon Chandler,Jenkins, Philip (2006). The New Faces of Christianity: Believing the Bible in the Global South. p. 182. Oxford University Press. Kindle Edition. but disputed by some Muslim academics.Muhammad Mustafa al-Azami, "The History of The Quranic Text: From Revelation to Compilation: A Comparative Study with the Old and New Testaments", 2nd Edition (2008), Azami Publishing House The Quran itself emphasizes that the fast it prescribes had already been prescribed to earlier biblical communities (2:183), though there is no explicit intertext for this pre-Islamic practice.
Important dates The Islamic calendar is lunar; each month begins when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted. The Islamic year consists of 12 lunar cycles and is 10 to 11 days shorter than the solar year. As the Islamic calendar does not use intercalation, Ramadan migrates throughout the seasons. The Islamic day starts after sunset. The estimated start and end dates for Ramadan, based on the Umm al-Qura calendar of Saudi Arabia, are:
+Ramadan dates between 2024 and 2028AHFirst day (CE/AD)Last day (CE/AD)144511 March 20249 April 202414461 March 202529 March 2025144718 February 202619 March 202614488 February 20278 March 2027144928 January 202825 February 2028
Many Muslims insist on the local physical sighting of the moon to mark the beginning of Ramadan, but others use the calculated time of the new moon or the Saudi Arabian declaration to determine the start of the month. Since the new moon is not in the same state at the same time globally, Ramadan's beginning and ending depend on what lunar sightings are received in each location. As a result, Ramadan dates vary in different countries, but usually by only a day. This is due to the cycles of the moon; the moon may not qualify as a waxing crescent, which delineates the change in months, at sundown in one location but later meet it in another location. Astronomical projections that approximate the start of Ramadan are available.
In Shia Islam, one of the special dates of this month is the day of the assassination of Ali, the fourth Rashidun caliph and the first Shia Imam. Ali was struck during morning prayer on the 19th day of Ramadan, 40 AH, and died on the 21st day of the month. Shi'ites engage in mourning and prayer on these nights, especially in Iran.
Beginning
Because the hilāl, or crescent moon, typically appears one day after the new moon, Muslims can usually estimate the beginning of Ramadan,Hilal Sighting & Islamic Dates: Issues and Solution Insha'Allaah . Hilal Sighting Committee of North America (website ). Retrieved 19 August 2009. but many prefer to confirm it by direct visual observation.
Laylat al-Qadr
The Laylat al-Qadr () or "Night of Power" is the night that Muslims believe the Quran was first sent down to the world and Muhammad received his first quranic revelation. It is considered the holiest night of the year. It is generally believed to have occurred on an odd-numbered night during the last ten days of Ramadan; the Dawoodi Bohra believe that Laylat al-Qadr was the 23rd night of Ramadan.
Eid
The holiday of Eid al-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر), which marks the end of Ramadan and the beginning of Shawwal, the next lunar month, is declared after a crescent new moon has been sighted or after 30 days of fasting if no sighting of the moon is possible. Eid celebrates the return to a more natural disposition (fitra) of eating, drinking, and marital intimacy.
Religious practices
The common practice is to fast from dawn to sunset. The predawn meal before the fast is the suhur, while the meal at sunset that breaks the fast is iftar.
Muslims devote more time to prayer and acts of charity, striving to improve their self-discipline, motivated by hadith: "When Ramadan arrives, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of hell are locked up and devils are put in chains."
Fasting
Ramadan is a time of spiritual reflection, self-improvement, and heightened devotion and worship. Muslims are expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam. The fast (sawm) begins at dawn and ends at sunset. In addition to abstaining from eating and drinking, Muslims abstain from sexual relations and sinful speech and behaviour during Ramadan. Fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities and to cleanse the soul by freeing it from harmful impurities. Muslims believe that Ramadan teaches them to practice self-discipline, self-control,Why Ramadan brings us together ; BBC, 1 September 2008 sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate, thus encouraging actions of generosity and compulsory charity (zakat).Help for the Heavy at Ramadan , Washington Post, 27 September 2008
Exemptions from fasting include those traveling, menstruating, severely ill, pregnant, or breastfeeding. Those unable to fast are obligated to make up the missed days later.
Suhur
Each day before dawn, Muslims eat a pre-fast meal called suhur. After finishing the meal and stopping a short time before dawn, they begin the first prayer of the day, fajr.
Iftar
At sunset, families break the fast with the iftar, traditionally opening the meal by eating dates to commemorate Muhammad's practice of breaking the fast with three dates. They then adjourn for Maghrib, the fourth of the five required daily prayers, after which the main meal is served.
Social gatherings, many times in buffet style, are frequent at iftar. Traditional dishes are often highlighted, including traditional desserts, particularly those made only during Ramadan. Examples of dishes are Qatayef, Chorba frik, Knafeh, Haleem, etc. Water is usually the beverage of choice, but juice, milk, soft drinks, and caffeinated beverages are also often available.
In the Middle East, iftar consists of water, juices, dates, salads and appetizers; one or more main dishes; and rich desserts, with dessert considered the most important aspect of the meal. Typical main dishes include lamb stewed with wheat berries, lamb kebabs with grilled vegetables, and roasted chicken served with chickpea-studded rice pilaf. Desserts may include lokma, baklava, or knafeh.
Over time, the practice of iftar has evolved into banquets that may accommodate hundreds or even thousands of diners. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, the largest mosque in the UAE, feeds up to 30,000 people every night.
Charity
Zakat, often translated as "the poor-rate", is the fixed percentage of income a believer is required to give to the poor; the practice is obligatory as one of the pillars of Islam. Muslims believe that good deeds are rewarded more handsomely during Ramadan than at any other time of the year; consequently, many Muslims donate more, or all, of their yearly zakat during this month.
Nightly prayers
Tarawih () are extra nightly prayers performed during the month of Ramadan. Contrary to popular belief, they are not compulsory.
Recitation of the Quran Muslims are encouraged to read the entire Quran, which comprises thirty juz' (sections), over the thirty days of Ramadan.
Cultural practices
In some Islamic countries, lights (fanous) are strung up in public squares and across city streets, a tradition believed to have originated during the Fatimid Caliphate, where the rule of Caliph al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah was acclaimed by people holding lanterns.
An old tradition of Old Dhaka, Bangladesh is during the time of sehri, groups of people would sing qasidas to wake up the Muslims in the neighbourhood. Chowk Bazaar is a place with great significance in Bengali culture during Ramadan. Shahi jilapi is unique delicacy from the iftar market, popular for its large size.
On the island of Java, many believers bathe in holy springs to prepare for fasting, a ritual known as Padusan. The city of Semarang marks the beginning of Ramadan with the Dugderan carnival, which involves parading the warak ngendog, a horse-dragon hybrid creature allegedly inspired by the Buraq. In the Chinese-influenced capital city of Jakarta, firecrackers are widely used to celebrate Ramadan, although they are officially illegal. Towards the end of Ramadan, most employees receive a one-month bonus known as Tunjangan Hari Raya. Certain kinds of food are especially popular during Ramadan, such as large beef or buffalo in Aceh and snails in Central Java. The iftar meal is announced every evening by striking the bedug, a giant drum, in the mosque.
Common greetings during Ramadan include Ramadan mubarak and Ramadan kareem, which mean (have a) "blessed Ramadan" and "generous Ramadan" respectively.Ramadan 2015: Facts, History, Dates, Greeting And Rules About The Muslim Fast , Huffington Post, 15 June 2015